Woman Spoils Bestie With A Designer Bag, And Accidentally Sets A Very Expensive Standard

A 23-year-old Redditor says she works as a manager at a food chain, but her pay is barely above minimum wage, and she mostly covers her own bills. While her well-off boyfriend occasionally helps out, she’s clear that it’s never expected and not something she relies on.

Last year, she had a little extra cash and decided to go all out for her best friend Rose’s birthday. She bought herself a Michael Kors handbag and treated herself to a shopping spree, spending around $500–$600 without a second thought.

At the time, Rose was dealing with debt and had been feeling insecure, joking that the Redditor now looked like a “rich girl” because of her boyfriend. Still, Rose loved the gifts, and the Redditor was genuinely happy to spoil her.

Fast-forward to this year, and the financial tables have turned. Rose is now debt-free and earning more, while the Redditor’s living costs have gone up, and money is much tighter.

Despite this, Rose has been nonstop talking about her December birthday and making pricey plans. These included booking a hotel, a night out at her favorite bar, new boots from Boot Barn, and even hinting at another MK bag and wallet.

The Redditor explained her budget, but Rose brushed it off by joking that her “sugar daddy” boyfriend could cover her rent. That comment didn’t sit well and made the Redditor feel taken for granted.

After an honest conversation, Rose admitted she got carried away and hadn’t considered her friend’s feelings. The hotel will now be split three ways, and the birthday gift will be a surprise chosen by the Redditor.

Fast-forward to this year, and the financial tables have turned.

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Here’s the original post by Reddit user ‘HunnieDu’.

I (23F) work a manager position in a food chain but don’t make much more than minimum wage. I also pay all my own bills for the most part. Occasionally my Boyfriend would surprise me by offering to pay a bill or two for me every once in awhile. He’s well off, but it’s not the expectation. I genuinely would never take him and his kindness for granted.Consequently, there where times I had a little extra to splurge on outings with my best friend (22F). We’ll call my friend Rose Last year I spoiled her on her birthday a bit. I saved up and was able to get her a nice handbag from MK and take her on a shopping spree. I noticed she was putting herself down before over how I looked like a “rich girl” now that I had a well off boyfriend. She was happy for me, but now felt self conscious next to me.Rose still had a job at the time, but was also paying off debt, she wouldn’t dare get something nice for herself. Rose absolutely loved the gifts and was so happy. I was happy for her. I probably spent $500-$600 for her birthday and thought nothing of it. This year I am more financially tight. Rose, however is now debt free and actually earning more than I am at the moment.I am not in debt, but due to my current circumstances my living costs are higher than they where last year. My Boyfriend has offered to help. With the way Covid has been for all of us I’m not accepting his help unless I’d absolutely need it so that it’s no unnecessary stress on him. Rose’s birthday is in December. Since my birthday in September, her birthday plans is probably all she’s really been talking about between casual conversation.Rose’s plans are expensive: Most of which seem to be made assuming I’d pay for them. She wants to go to her favorite bar the night of her birthday, so she chooses a hotel and asked me to book it. I booked it assuming we’d split the cost. She also wants to go to Boot Barn and get a new pair of boots casually saying that that could be my present to her... On top of another MK bag & wallet for Christmas which came up in a different conversation. None of these things I really agreed to. All of these things have $$$ price points. I let her know that money is tighter for me this year breaking down my financial plan for myself.She just “jokes” that my “Sugar Daddy” can pay my rent and I’d be fine... but that she’d be willing to go half on the hotel if I want. Which was a shock to me At this point I’m starting to feel like spoiling her last year has lead to her taking me and my finances for granted.Update: We’ve had a talk, she agreed that she got too excited and didn’t think about how it might make me feel. The hotel plans are still on but will now be split 3 ways. And my gift to her is going to be a surprise of my choice. Thank you all for your comments. I’m happy she didn’t turn into a Karen on me.Info: My birthday was fine, she spoiled me as much as she was able, and we had a beach day. my BF couldn’t make it so he paid for all the food.Edit: Rose already knew that I wasn’t financially depending on my well off boyfriend. And that I saved my own money for her Birthday last year.

Let’s see how the Reddit community reacted.

Yasuicide2

She’s taking advantage of you.

TineriusClegane

NTA.

Flat_Summer

You need to explain that your circumstances are different now.

Outside-Question

Don’t be her door mat.

Flippn_Freddy

That’s odd.

External_Outcome5678

You only have yourself to blame for this.

StainlessHinge

Tell her what you told us.

1Mandolo1

Disgusting behavior.

ChipsNCola

She needs to respect you and your financial situation.

lady_vesuvius

She’s got a screw loose!

Pronky22

Cancel the hotel room.

Justdone123

Let her know you can’t afford those things.

carlosmurphynachos

In the end, the Redditor says the situation turned into a much-needed lesson about communication and boundaries. While money can complicate even the closest friendships, she’s relieved that an honest conversation helped reset expectations—without costing her the friendship or her savings.